Nov 7 2011
Press TV’s Hassan Ghani Languishes In A Prison of the Zionist Entity
Press TV reporter Hassan Ghani, along with around 20 other activists and journalists, remain behind bars in Israel for the fourth successive day. Hassan’s father says his son is in extreme danger and has slammed the British authorities for not condemning the Israelis for kidnapping his son. Roshan Muhammed Salih reports from London.
Hassan’s father was allowed a short phone conversation with him on Sunday. He says that physically Hassan is fine, but he’s had no access to lawyers, his belongings have been confiscated, and the Israelis won’t divulge which prison he’s being held in.
Haq Ghani says Hassan refused to sign a waiver the Israelis put in front of him absolving them of all responsibility. And he had harsh words for the British Foreign Office, who have a responsibility towards Hassan as a UK citizen.
Shortly before Hassan’s boat, the Tahrir, was attacked by Israeli warships he managed to file one last report. Minutes later he and 27 activists and journalists were captured by the Israeli navy in international waters.
Many complained of harsh treatment before being taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod. Subsequently, seven were reportedly released but at least 20 remain in custody because they refused to sign deportation papers.
Alex Lorty Philips has travelled with Hassan on two convoys to Gaza, including one during which the Israelis killed 9 people. She’s now launching a publicity campaign to keep Hassan’s predicament in the spotlight.
The British Foreign Office say that they’ve provided Hassan with consular assistance in Israel. Meanwhile, their Israeli allies say that they won’t allow the Gaza blockade to be broken because weapons are being smuggled to the Hamas government in Gaza.
It’s still not certain what will happen to Hassan Ghani and the remaining detainees, although it’s likely that they’ll all be deported in the next few days. However, pro-Palestinian activists agree that no matter what aggressive actions Israel takes, the Gaza flotillas will continue because Israel’s blockade of Gaza is causing unprecedented suffering.